Wildlife
Chinstrap penguins are well adapted for the extreme cold of the Antarctic waters. Their short, densely packed feathers act as insulation to keep the heat in, as well as a water proofing layer to keep the water out. There is a very large and healthy population that lives and breeds in large colonies numbering into the millions. The chinstrap penguin's main predators are leopard seals and birds such as skuas that prey on the chicks and eggs.
Scientific name: Pygoscelis antarcticus
Rank: Species
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Slippery slopes
Chinstrap penguins play snakes and ladders on a mud covered glacier.
You'd think that being battered by huge waves and dragged down by the undertow was enough for any penguin returning from a fishing trip. But once she's on dry land, a female chinstrap penguin must also climb to the top of a very slippery volcano before arriving home. Then it's just a matter of finding her chick amongst the other 150,000 penguins that also live there...
The Chinstrap penguin can be found in a number of locations including: Antarctica. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Chinstrap penguin distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Year assessed: 2009
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) is a species of penguin which is found in the South Sandwich Islands, Antarctica, Deception Island, the South Orkneys, South Shetland, South Georgia, Bouvet Island and Balleny. Their name derives from the narrow black band under their heads which makes it appear as if they are wearing black helmets, making them one of the most easily identified types of penguin. Other names for them are "Ringed Penguins", "Bearded Penguins", and "Stonecracker Penguins" due to their harsh call.
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Coastal
Shallow seas
Open ocean
Polar
